CIVICS 101 PARKS AND RECREATION Wednesday ... - Huntersville

CIVICS 101
PARKS AND RECREATION
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

July 1995
History of Huntersville Parks and Recreation
The Huntersville Parks and Recreation Department was created. At that time the town
was managing 3 small parks.
April 1997
The town developed its first major park (Huntersville Athletic Park)
August 1999
The town took over the operation and management of North Mecklenburg Park. The
town expanded this park in 2001 and 2010.
May 2000
The town started its first of many partnerships with CMS. The Town and CMS jointly
developed the full-sized gym at Huntersville Elementary School.
November 2003
Huntersville Residents approved its first Parks and Recreation Bond. The bond was for
$6 million.
Today the department manages 18 parks and facilities including 7 joint use agreements.

Parks and Recreation additions since
2008
• 2008
Opened Richard Barry Memorial Park
Began a joint use agreement with CMS for the use of the Barnette Elementary School
Gymnasium.
• 2009
Opened Robert Bradford Park.
Began a joint use agreement with the Lake Norman Charter High School for the use of their
gymnasium.
• 2010
Added a shelter/restroom building at Abernathy Park.
Added the town’s first boundless playground a Richard Barry Park.
Added two playgrounds and a covered shelter at Bradford Park.
Added a tennis court and plaza area at Waymer Park.
• 2011
Added a tennis complex at North Mecklenburg Park
Installed synthetic turf on two of the existing baseball fields at Huntersville Athletic Park
Open the town’s first disc golf course at Bradford Park last year.

Grants and Donations since 2004
• Two state PARTF grants totaling $763,000 for the development of
Barry Park
• One state PARTF grant for $125,000 for Waymer Park
• A $25,000 grant from Lowes Home Improvement for the new
playground at Bradford Park
• A $100,000 grant from Boundless Playgrounds for the new playground
at Barry Park. The grant was funded by American Tire Distributors
• A $1 million Sportsplex Grant from Mecklenburg County for the
development of the Bradford Park Softball Complex
• A $160,000 donation from North Meck Soccer Club for the lights at
Barry Park
• A $40,000 grant from USTA for the development of the tennis courts
at North Mecklenburg Park
• A $175,100 ARRA Energy Efficiency Grant for the replacement of old
sports lighting on the two older softball fields at North Mecklenburg
Park
• TOTAL: $2,388,100.00

Huntersville Park Bond Funds
• $2,103,350- For the development of Richard Barry Park
• $1,084,650- For the development of Bradford Park
• $693,159- Barnette Elementary School Gymnasium
• $200,000- Improvements to Waymer Park
• $112,000- Improvements to North Mecklenburg Park
• $250,000- Lake Norman Charter School Gym
• $80,000- NMP Sewer Connection
• $80,000- Bradford Park Playground and Shelter
• $91,000- Abernathy Park Shelter/Restroom Building
• $555,500- North Mecklenburg Park Tennis Complex
• $250,341- Synthetic turf infields on two baseball fields at
the Huntersville Athletic Park
TOTAL: $5,500,000

Mecklenburg County Park Bond
Funds (approved in 2008)
• $2,950,000- 3 new synthetic turf soccer fields at
Bradford Park
• $1,500,000- For expansion of HFFA
• $27,000,000- For northern towns Regional
Recreation Center
• $3,600,000- Master Planning and Phase 1
development of Eastfield Park
• $7,800,000- New nature center and infrastructure
at Latta Plantation
• $2,500,000- McDowell Creek Greenway (1.2
miles) from Wynfield to Gilead village

Parks and Facilities Division
Huntersville Parks & Recreation Department’s Parks and
Facilities Division is responsible for maintaining and
operating eighteen (18) parks and recreational facilities,
which include twenty-one (21) baseball/softball fields,
seventeen (17) soccer fields, ten (10) playgrounds, thirteen
(13) tennis courts, seven (7) outdoor basketball courts,
seven (7) covered shelters, ten (10) restroom facilities, five
(5) gymnasiums, two (2) Civic Buildings and the Town
Center. The department is responsible for 230 acres of
developed parkland and over 410 acres of undeveloped
parkland. Over 1million patrons visited our four major
parks and over 137,000 visited our five major indoor
facilities in 2011. Total attendance was up by 4%
compared to 2010. Some of the most used parks in
Mecklenburg County are in Huntersville with 3,400
baseball and softball games played in 2011. That is up by
7% compared to 2010.

Park and Gym Attendance
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
Visitors
200,000
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Recreation Division
The Huntersville Parks and Recreation Department’s
Recreation Division is responsible for all special events,
athletics and general recreation programming for the
department. The division continues to offer high quality
and diverse programs to the residents of Huntersville at the
lowest cost possible. The department offered one hundred
and ninety-four (194) successful programs to almost 7,400
participants last year. Participants spent over 688,000
hours in these programs. This division also offered six (6)
Special Events that over 6,400 people attended. Programs
offered range from Senior Programs such as: softball,
basketball, badminton, bridge and trips. Adult Programs
included: men’s and co-ed softball, kickball, yoga, Pilates
and etc. Youth Programs included girl’s volleyball,
lacrosse, flag football, summer camps, home-school
programs, tennis lessons, afterschool programs, arts
programs and etc. Pre-school programs such as
Kindermusik and five different Start Smart Sports. Many
special needs programs are offered throughout the year.

Programming Trends since 2004
New Programs since 2004
• Fall and Spring Youth Girl’s Volleyball Leagues
• Fall and Spring Youth Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball Leagues
• Fall and Spring Senior Softball Leagues
• Senior Badminton
• Fall, Summer and Spring Adult Kickball Leagues
• Spring and Fall Lacrosse Leagues
• Senior Basketball League
• Start Smart sports programs for pre-school ages (soccer, basketball,
baseball and golf
• Quick Start Tennis for youth
• Home-school Programs
• NFL Youth Flag Football Leagues
• Movies in the Park
• Special Needs programs
• Parent and Child Programs- Kindermusik, stroller-fit, prenatal yoga
and etc.
• Yoga and Pilates classes
• Hosting Tournaments: 3 in 2004 to 46 in 2011.

Partnerships
• The town has the following partnerships with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
• Joint Use agreement with Torrence Creek Elementary School for the use of
the multipurpose room.
• Joint Use agreement with Huntersville Elementary School for the use of the
two softball fields and the gymnasium.
• Joint Use agreement with Barnette Elementary School for the use of the
gymnasium.
• Joint Use agreement with Blythe Elementary School for the use of the open
fields.
• Joint Use agreement with Bradley Middle School for the use of the softball
fields, baseball field, football field and track.
• The town has the following partnerships with Mecklenburg County
• Lease the park land for Huntersville Athletic Park
• Lease the park land for North Mecklenburg Park
• Lease the park land for Bradford Park
• Lease the park land for Barry Park
• Lease the land and building for Waymer Park and the Waymer Center
• The town has the following partnerships with Lake Norman Charter School
• Joint use agreement for the use of the Middle School Gym and Multipurpose
Room
• Joint use agreement for the use of the High School Gym
• The town and Davidson jointly share the cost to operating Bradford Park
• The town and Cornelius jointly offer special needs programs as well as summer sports
camps.

PROGRAM SPONSORS

Co-sponsorship Organizations
The town has a co-sponsorship policy the identifies athletic organizations that serve a large group of
Huntersville residents. These groups must apply for co-sponsorship through the Parks and
Recreation Commission. The Parks and Recreation Commission then makes a recommendation
based on certain criteria to the Huntersville Town Board for a final decision. Groups who are
granted co-sponsorship receive a 75% discount on field and gym usage as well as get the
opportunity to book facilities before the general public. Facility allocations are base on them
number of Huntersville residents. The groups below are the current co-sponsored organizations.

Tournaments and Sporting Events

Estimated Economic Impact
$16,000,000
$14,000,000
$12,000,000
$10,000,000
$8,000,000
$6,000,000
$4,000,000
$2,000,000
$0
2004 2006 2008 2010
Economic Impact

Direct Revenue
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
Direct Revenue
$20,000
$10,000
$0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Huntersville Parks and Recreation
Master Plan
The Town recently updated its Parks and
Recreation Master Plan. The previous plan
was adopted back in 2004 and the town board
adopted the 2020 Parks and Recreation
Master Plan last November. This plan will
serve as a blueprint for future Parks and
Recreation decisions in Huntersville.

2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan Results
Top five amenities requested
1. Trails and Greenways
2. Amphitheater/Band Stand
3. Dog Park
4. Splash Pad
5. Botanical Garden areas
How would you rate the importance of a downtown park that could
include an amphitheater, splash pad, trails, gardens and etc.?
Over 82% of respondents support this type of park.
How would you rate the importance of the Town developing large parks
that have multiple amenities in one location.
Over 86% of respondent support larger parks.

Future Projects
•Multiuse Recreation Center
•Expansion of Holbrook Park
•Master Plan Ranson/Rosedale Park
•Master Plan Cook and Pennington Properties
•Advocate for the purchase of new park land through the county in
the southwest quadrant of Huntersville.

Committees
There are two committees that the Parks and Recreation Department serves as a
liaison to between the Town Board. All members are appointed by the Town
Board.
Parks and Recreation Committee- Nine members serve three year terms. The
committee meets once a month on the third Wednesday of every month at
6:30pm at the Town Center offices. The Commission shall consult with and
advise the Department, the Manager, and the Town Board of Commissioners
in matters affecting recreation policies, programs, philosophy, finances,
operations, and the acquisition and disposal of lands and properties related to
the total community recreation program, and to its long-range, projected
program for recreation.
Greenway and Bikeway Committee- Seven members serve on this committee
for three year terms. The committee meets once a month on the third Tuesday
of every month at 6:30pm at the Town Center offices. The Commission shall
consult with and advise the Department, the Manager, and the Town Board of
Commissioners in matters affecting Greenway, Trail, and Bikeway policies,
planning, philosophy, finances, operations, and the acquisition and the
development of lands and properties related to the total Greenway, Trail, and
Bikeway system, and to its long-range, projected system for the Town.

Greenways
The Town of Huntersville works very closely with Mecklenburg County
when it comes to greenways. Currently there are two developed
Greenways in Huntersville. Torrence Creek Greenway approximately
1.4 miles long and runs along the northern edge of Cedarfield.
McDowell Creek Greenway approximately 1.5 miles runs along the
eastern edge of Birkdale behind the Movie Theater to West Moreland
Road. The County manages and operates both of these greenways.
The County has plans to extend the Torrence Creek Greenway to go
under Gilead Road and connect to the Rosedale Shopping Center area.
This extension should be completed by 2012.
The Town of Huntersville adopted a Greenway and Bikeway Master Plan
in 2007. This plan expanded on the County Greenway Master Plan.
This plan also looked at on-road bike lanes as well. This plans also
helps with getting new developments to dedicate land for future
greenways that are in our approved plan. This will help to ensure that
the town is more connected in the future.

Awards
2010 National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award for Bradford Park
2010 National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award for North Meck Park
2009 National Excellence in Youth Sports Award from the National Alliance for
Youth Sports and Athletic Business Magazine
2009 National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award for Bradford Park
2008 All-American Soap Box Derby Rally Champ’s Choice Award
2008 National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award for North Meck Park
2007 All-American Soap Box Derby Rally Champ’s Choice Award
2002 National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award for North Meck Park

QUESTIONS???